Nassau County Legislator Kevan Abrahams (D-Hempstead) and members of the legislature approved a law at the March 19 session which will change how the county calculates leave pay for county employees who called to active military duty in the War on Terrorism. Currently, the reservist continues to collect his or her full county salary while mobilized; at the same time, he or she is earning a military salary, which includes food and housing allowances. The reservist is then obligated to reimburse the county whatever he or she has earned in military pay.

“We have adjusted this so that when soldiers come back they are not paying money for having gone to war for our country,” Abrahams said.

According to the Legislative Budget Review Office, 74 employees would be impacted by this legislation, with 58% coming from the Police Department.